Camera support and control device

ABSTRACT

An extensible camera mast in which the tilt of a camera placed at the top of the mast is controlled by a pair of lines that extend from a tilt assembly on which the camera is mounted down to a control assembly where the lines are wound on oppositely rotatable spools so that one line is taken up as the other is released.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for supporting and controlling acamera, in particular such a device in which the camera is mounted atthe top of an extensible mast and can be pivoted in a controlled mannerabout a horizontal axis by means of a control mechanism near a lower endthat is operated by an operator and in which the camera can also bepivoted about a vertical axis.

BACKGROUND

Cameras especially video cameras are typically mounted in a heavy,expensive support carriage that provides numerous features andconvenience. Such support mechanisms as are used in the video taping andbroadcast of sporting events are well known. In a typical sporting eventsuch as a football game or a soccer game or other field sport severalcameras are used. These are typically very expensive cameras and theyare carried on expensive carriages. In such events particularly forcommercial taping and broadcast many cameras are used some on the groundlevel, others in the viewing stands and still others in complex “skycam”rigs. Typical of such rigs are of the jib arm and crane type thatrequire a counterbalancing element. Even when the jib arm is mounted ona tripod, a counterbalance is needed in order to allow convenience ofuse.

Recently as camera technology has advanced good quality cameras areavailable that cost a lot less than the professional cameras used formajor sporting events. Even at such events the new lightweight andeasily carried cameras are used for “roving” features such as spotinterviews and the like. For convenience these cameras can be called“prosumer” products because they combine features of professionalcameras with the cost and convenience of consumer cameras.

As is well known there is a world of sports at which professionalbroadcast recording is absent, but in this world there is still a desireto record the event. Such events as high school sports are a primeexample. There is a need to be able to provide professional level tapingand broadcast of such events. While it is true that a person or severalpersons with consumer video cameras could accomplish taping and thenproducing a fully recorded event, the need is for a professional levelof endeavor. With a good professional recording of the event parents andothers can find it desirable to buy a tape, disc, or other mediarecording of the event for their personal enjoyment. This then predictsa business in the recording of such events, which are not recorded bythe major recording companies. For such a business there is a need forprofessional level equipment in terms of utility but at a cost that canbe tolerated for the economics involved. One such piece of equipment isa device to elevate a camera to enable it to record events from adesired height and also to be able to rotate the device around avertical axis to change its view and also to pivot the camera on ahorizontal axis to be able to look near and far away as desired. Thistype of flexibility in the hands of a skilled camera operator can helpto produce a saleable product at events where in the past it was simplyprohibitive to consider quality recording. For example a high schoolsoccer game can be recorded and edited on site and a CD-ROM offered forsale to parents, coaches, etc. There is a need for the capability torecord such an event and prepare on site a product to sell.

The present invention is for a device that can provide the economicalsimple and easily used device for such purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a camera support and control apparatus having anextensible mast at the top of which is a control response assembly inwhich a horizontal pivot axis is defined and having a tilt plate mountedfor pivoting on the horizontal axis and a rotator member for controllingrotation of the tilt plate and lower on the mast for access by a user, acontrol assembly having rotatable spools on which are oppositely wound apair of lines, the lines extending to spaced apart positions on therotator member on opposite sides of the pivot axis so that when one lineis pulled by winding it on the spool rotation in one direction takesplace, while the other is allowed to unwind, and vise versa for rotationin the opposite direction. With this apparatus, a camera mounted on thetilt plate can be controllably tilted about the horizontal tilt axis.

Further description of the invention can be seen in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the invention as assembled ready for use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged broken view of the invention as assembled readyfor use.

FIG. 3 a is a side view of the foot assembly.

FIG. 3 b is a bottom view of the foot assembly.

FIG. 3 c is an exploded perspective view of the foot assembly.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the control response assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the control response assembly.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the releasable collarassembly.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the releasable collar assembly.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the releasable collar assembly.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the releasable collar assembly.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the control assembly.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the control assembly.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the control assembly.

FIG. 13 is a partially diagrammatic view of the lines as they areattached to the spools at one end and the pulley wheel at the other end

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 15 is a partial view of a further evolved embodiment and a partialdiagrammatic view of the lines and the spools.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring from the control box to thecamera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a camera support and control apparatusthat is one-person portable and provides for elevating and controlling acamera without the need for any counterbalancing apparatus. Theinvention allows the camera to be tilted in a vertical plane about ahorizontal axis and the apparatus is pivotable about a vertical axis.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 inwhich the camera support and control device 10 has an extensible mast12, having a bottom end 14, and a top end 16. Located at the top end 16is a camera mounting and control response assembly 18. Located at thebottom end is a pivoting foot assembly 20. Located at a convenientoperating position for a person to operate the device is a controlassembly 22. The extensible mast 12 is made up of a number oftelescoping sections from the lowest mast section 24, then to a secondand intermediate mast section 26 and finally to a third and upper mastsection 28. The number and length of telescoping sections is a matter ofchoice. Each mast collapses into the one below into a travelconfiguration, and in use they are extended to the desired height. Inthe embodiment shown three sections are shown. A releasable collarassembly 30 is fixed to the top of the lowest section 24 and anotherreleasable collar assembly 32 is fixed to the top of the second section26. Lines 34 and 36 (FIG. 1 only) extend between the camera mounting andcontrol response assembly 18 and the control assembly 22. The term“line” as used herein is intended to include any line or rope or thelike that will work for the purpose described herein. The use a braidedpre-stretched rope such as Brite Lite Spectra Braid is suitable.

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 3 c are the detail of the pivoting foot assembly 20.A cup 38 has an opening 40 in which to receive the lower terminal end ofthe lowest mast section 24 (not shown). It may be secured in place byany selected means such as setscrews, bolts, or welding. A rubber (orplastic) footpad 42 resides below the cup 38. The cup 38 and the footpad42 are mutually pivotable, which can be accomplished by various means.The means shown is a bolt 44 mounting a washer 46 that extends through ahole in the cup 38 and through a hole in the foot pad 42, being securedby a washer 48 and a nut 50 which reside in a recess 52 in the foot pad42. To provide smooth pivoting, between the cup 38 and the footpad 42 isan assembly of a washer 54, a washer 56, and between them a thrustbearing 58. It is a feature of the invention that the flexibility of useis enhanced by the absence of a supporting base. Thus the foot assembly20 is small, close in size to the mast diameter so that while itprovides for pivoting the masts, the operator retains the ability tokeep the whole apparatus upright (or tilted if desired) and to rotate itas desired. The foot assembly could be equipped with a gimbaled bearingto allow several degrees of freedom for both rotating and tilting.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the control response assembly 18 and FIG.5 is a perspective view (a more fully developed but partial view isshown in FIG. 15). A yoke 60 has a base member 62 and an upright member64, which has near its upper end 66 a hole 68 defining a pivot axis 70.The yoke 60 is attached to the top of the upper mast section 28 byinserting a mounting spud 72 into the upper mast section 28 (not shown)which may be secured by attaching screws 74 through holes in the mastsection 28 into threaded holes in the mounting spud 72 or by othersecuring means such as by a press or interference fit, or by welding. Anupper portion of the mounting spud 72 is fitted to extend beyond the endof the upper mast section 28 leaving access to a slot 76 dimensioned toreceive the base member 62 of the yoke 60 which is then fastened inplace with a bolt 78.

Also referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a tilt plate 80 has an upright member82 and a base member 84 which is a camera support element. The tiltplate 80 will have a camera mounted on it as will be more fullydescribed below. An array of holes 86 is provided in order toaccommodate mounting various cameras and lens configurations. With acamera fitted by a bolt through a selected hole, the tilt plate 80should have a natural rest position such that in the rest position thecamera lens axis is at or near horizontal. The center of gravity of thetilt plate 80 with a camera attached should be below the axis 70 so asto create the rest position. With this configuration, as will beunderstood later, the tilt plate and thus the camera on it can withequal ease be tilted up or down. In special circumstances, if tilting upor tilting down is a dominant or exclusive mode of use the camera itselfcan be tilted or the line set up can be biased or the camera can bemounted on a hole 86 that establishes a desired tilt. The upright member82 has a hole 88 near its upper end and below the hole 88 a threadedhole 90. A pulley wheel 92 has a central hole 94 and below it anotherhole 96 and above and aligned with each other there are spaced apartopenings 98 a and 98 b. The pulley wheel 92 has a groove 100 and in thegroove 100 near each of the holes 98 a and 98 b are holes 102 a and 102b that extend from the groove 100 to the openings 98 a and 98 brespectively. When the pulley wheel 92 is fitted adjacent the uprightmember 82, with the central hole 94 aligned with the hole 88 on axis 70,the hole 96 will be aligned with the threaded hole 90. To assemble thecontrol response assembly 18, the pulley wheel 92 is placed adjacent theupright member 82 and attached by a threaded screw 104 through the hole96 into the threaded hole 90 to define a sub-assembly, a tilt assembly106 comprised of the tilt plate 80 and the pulley wheel 92. The tiltassembly 106 is mounted on the upright member 64 with a suitable bearingassembly to enable it to pivot on the pivot axis 70; the design of sucha bearing assembly is considered within the ordinary skill of adesigner. In the present embodiment, to assemble the tilt assembly 106for pivoting on the upright member 64 there is a bolt 108. A pair ofwashers 110 and 112 and between them a thrust bearing 114 are fitted onthe bolt 108 on the outside (to the right in FIG. 3) of the uprightmember 80 and a second such set, washers 116 and 118 between which is athrust bearing 120 fitted on the outside of the pulley wheel 92, betweenthe pulley wheel 92 and the upright member 66. Then with the bolt 108fitted through the upright member 82 and held securely by a washer 122and a nut 124, the tilt assembly 106 is pivotable on the upright member82. The base member 84 of the tilt plate 80 is sufficiently below thepivot axis 70, around which the pivoting structure 106 can pivot, suchthat the tilt assembly 106 will tend to take a rest position with thebase member 84 below the pivot axis 70 as shown in the figures. Evenwith a camera resting on the base member 84, the upright member 82 isfabricated to extend sufficiently below the pivot axis 70 that theweight with a camera installed will cause the tilt assembly 106 to havea rest position approximately as shown so that the camera will beapproximately horizontal (or biased as desired). As will be appreciated,it is not necessary that the base member's 84 rest position be exactlyhorizontal and in fact since cameras vary, such as with a long lens,there may be a tilt at rest, but the center of gravity must be below thepivot axis 70 in order to establish a rest position and to allowcontrolled tilt by tension alone on the lines as will be describedbelow.

When the mast members are in the erected position a locking device isemployed to keep them there. Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, thereleasable collar assemblies 30 and 32 have a collar body 140. Thecollar body 140 has a split upper portion 142 and a split lower portion144 with a central portion 146 that is not split. Parallel blocks 148 aand 148 b are on each side of the split in the upper portion 142.Installed across the blocks 143 a and 148 b is a cam lock assembly 150.On the lower portion 144 there is also a set of blocks 154 a and 154 b,block 154 a having a clear hole through it and block 154 b having athreaded hole in it so that a bolt 156 can be inserted and tightened. Asplit plastic sleeve 158 fits inside the split upper portion 142. Withappropriate dimensioning the collar assemblies 30 and 32 can be thesame, with enough range for tightening to fit in both places. The collarassembly 30 is assembled to the lower mast section 24 by the split lowerportion 144 being placed over the upper end of the mast section 24 andthe bolt 156 tightened to hold it firmly in place. Similarly the collarassembly 32 is attached to the upper end of the mast section 26.Referring to both of the collar assemblies 30 and 32, then the nextupper mast section that has a reduced diameter to fit inside the mastsection below it is fitted. When the next upper mast section is to beextended it is raised to the desired height and then the cam lockassembly 150, which is in its open position, is tightened to grip thenext upper section and keep it extended.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 the control assembly 22 is seen indetail. It has two sub assemblies, a mounting assembly 160 for mountingit on the mast and a control operating assembly 162 for controlling thetilt of the tilt assembly 106. The mounting assembly 160 has anadjustment collar 162 made up of two pieces 164 a and 164 b that aremutually pivotable by hinges 166 a and 166 b respectively. Inside eachof the two pieces 164 a and 164 b of the adjustment collar 162 areplastic sleeves 168 a and 168 b each having a rim 170 a and 170 b sothat they can be screwed down to the respective pieces of the collar 162by screws 172 a and 172 b. The pivoting pieces 164 a and 164 b haveblocks 174 and 176 so that a cam lock assembly 178 can be used totighten it onto the mast section 24. Also the mounting assembly 160 hasa support handle 180 for easily rotating the entire mast about itsvertical axis and to facilitate keeping it upright. Also as seen in FIG.15, a control box 242 is fitted on the support handle 180.

The control operating assembly 162 has a spool core assembly 182 havinga first spool core end cap 184 and spaced from the first spool core endcap 184, a second spool core end cap 186, which is integral with a spoolcore 188. Rotatably assembled on the spool core 188 are a first spool190 and a second spool 192. Adjacent the second spool 192 is a metaldisc brake 194 and on the opposite side of the metal disc brake 194 isthe first spool core end cap 184. The first spool 190 has an adjustingrim 196 and the second spool 192 has an adjusting rim 198. These aremounted adjacent each other and are shaped to be easily operated by handor fingers to rotate their respective spools. The adjusting rims 196 and198 may also be mounted spaced apart by mounting one or both of thespools 190 and 192 oppositely on the spool core 188. The spool core 188is rotatably mounted on the mounting assembly 160 by means of a bearing200 that is fixed to the mounting assembly 160 so that the core isrotatable on the bearing 200. Washer and thrust bearing sets 202 and 204enable easy rotation. Mounted on the first spool core end cap 184 aretwo threaded locking mechanisms 206 a and 206 b that are screwed on tothe first spool core end cap 184 and bear against the metal disc brake194. The spools 190 and 192 are rotatably mounted on the spool core 188.A tilt handle 208 is mounted to the spool core assembly 182 by a mountbolt 210 and washer 212 into a threaded hole 183 in the first spool coreend cap 184. A thumbscrew 213 enables adjustment of the support handle180, which has an off-axis bend in it. The entire control handleassembly 22 is mounted on an axis A—A so that the spools 192 and 190 arerotatable about the axis A—A.

Now referring to FIG. 13, extending from the pulley wheel 92 are a firstline 220 (the same as line 34 in FIG. 1) and a second line 222 (the sameas line 36 in FIG. 1). The first line 220 has an upper end 224 securelyfixed to the pulley wheel 92 by running it through the hole 102 a andinto and out of the hole 98. A crimp or knot (not shown) is applied tothe upper end 224 and preferably the crimp is pressed securely into thehole 98 a. Similarly the second line 222 has an upper end 226 thatextends through the hole 102 b into and out of the hole 98 b and issimilarly crimped or knotted securely in place. Any other well knownmeans for securing the upper ends 224 and 226 in place could be usedsuch as screws, eye bolts, etc so long as the lines ride in the pulleygroove 100. The first line 220 has a lower end length 228 and the secondline 222 has a lower end length 230. These are attached to and windableon the spools 192 and 190 respectively, each having a sufficient lengthwound onto the spool to allow operation as described below. The linesare oppositely wound, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise.

Before use, in the stored and travel position the telescoping mastsections are contracted, and the lines 220 and 222 are wound onto thespools 192 and 190. It is also preferable to tighten the collarassemblies 30 for travel. To place apparatus into operation, the lockingmechanisms 206 a and 206 b are backed off to release the disc brake 194.This releases the spools 190 and 192 for independent rotation so that asthe masts are extended the spools unwind and the lines 220 and 222 arereleased as the masts are extended. The camera is attached at anyconvenient time in the process. After the masts reach the desiredextension, the collar assemblies are tightened. Also the spools 190 and192 are adjusted by hand, using the rims 196 and 198, to a snug tensionof the lines for operation. Then the locking mechanisms 206 a and 206 bare tightened to lock the spools 190 and 192 for rotation with the spoolcore 188. In this state the spools 190 and 192 are rotated by use of thetilt handle 208. They rotate together, but as they are oppositely wound,one unwinds while the other winds.

Now the mast is ready for camera operation. To tilt the camera in aselected direction, up or down, the tilt handle 208 is rotated. One ofthe spools will be in tension and will pull the line on it therebypulling the rotator member in the, the pulley wheel 92 in the preferredembodiment thereby tilting the tilt assembly 106 and the camera on it.As the spool in tension is winds, the other spool unwinds.

At the top of the mast the pulley wheel 92 responds by rotating in thedirection of the line that is being shortened, thereby tilting the tiltassembly 106 about the tilt axis 70.

The particular embodiment described above in which the pulley wheel 92operates the tilt assembly 106 has a particular special advantage inthat it is rotated by a force applied on or near its horizontal diameterB—B (as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, which is the point of greatestmechanical advantage, and it allows the force for pulling on the lineand amount of take-up of the line to be constant as the tilt assembly istilted.

This can be even more appreciated when an alternative embodiment asshown in FIG. 14 is understood. Referring to FIG. 14, the rotator memberis a pair of lever arms 300 a and 300 b that are fixed togetherextending upwardly at an angle X to the horizontal fitted to rotateabout the pivot axis 70. The lines 290 and 222 are attached at points302 a and 302 b. To rotate the lever 30 arms from angle X to thehorizontal axis B′—B′ requires first a greater amount of force since themechanical advantage is least and less force as the lever arm rotatestoward the horizontal position at B′—B′ (the preferred convergence ofthe lines 220 and 222 toward the smaller diameter around the spools 190and 192 should be appreciated although it is not shown in FIG. 14). Alsothe amount of line pulled per amount of rotation changes as the anglechanges. While this lever arm construction works well it lacks theparticular advantages of the pulley wheel construction. Nevertheless thelever arm system has its own particular advantages. It is simple inconstruction and could be fashioned as part of the upright member 82 andit does not require that the line stay in a pulley groove.

A further evolution of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 15. Inthis embodiment the tilt assembly 310 has a pulley wheel 312 constructedof a rim 314 and spokes 316 and a hub 318. It has a groove 320 and holes322 from the groove to the inside of the rim 314. The pulley wheel 312is fixed to the tilt plate 80 (upright member 82) by screws 324. Lines220 and 222 are fixed to the pulley wheel by knots 326 and 328. Thelines 220 and 222 are shown as converging to illustrate the mechanicaladvantage provided due to the diameter of the pulley wheel 312 beinggreater than the diameter of the spools 109 and 192 (taking into accountthat the lines are wound on the spools and therefore have a larger andsomewhat variable diameter than the spools themselves). A mechanicaladvantage of about 2:1 is very good and a diameter of 6 inches for thepulley wheel is practical. Also shown in FIG. 15, schematically is thelimit of tilt available. Much of the tilt occurs by rotation of thesecuring point of the lines in the holes 322 and 324 toward thehorizontal axis B—B; this tilt range having the maximum mechanicaladvantage. However the tilt can be continued beyond line B—B albeit withthe need for greater force until the lines extend straight out of theholes 322 and 324. This is illustrated approximately by the phantomlines 330 and the circle 332 representing the spooled line on the spools190 and 192.

Another feature of the invention is shown in FIG. 16. A camera controlbox 350 is attached to the support handle 180. Camera control cable 352is attached and runs between the camera 354 and the control box 350. Thecontrol cable 352 is extensible at least in the portion within the mast,preferably configured as a spiral winding inside the mast sections. Itenters the mast near the top through a grommet 356 and extends to thelowest mast section exiting through a grommet 358. It is important thatthe lower exit point be below the stopping point of the mast sectiontelescoped inside so as to not damage the cable. The cable may alsoinclude a signal output line from the camera to a monitor or a storagemedium or even a direct broadcast system. A monitor is preferablymounted on the mast so that the user can monitor and control the camera.

As will be appreciated, the preferred embodiment provides two states ofthe control assembly 22. In one state the spools 190 and 192 rotatetogether, but because the lines are wound on them oppositely, one windsup and the other unwinds. The one that winds up is in tension and causestilting of the camera. In this first state, with the apparatus describedabove, the disc brake is applied. The second state exists when the discbrake is released allowing the spools to rotate freely andindependently. The second state is used for erection and collapsing ofthe masts so that during erection the spools will both unwind until thedesired height is set and during collapse the spools will be wound byhand. However another embodiment can be implemented that omits theentire brake structure as well as the availability of independentrotation of the spools, in other words the second state is omitted andthe apparatus is constructed so that the spools and the tilt handle arepermanently fixed for rotation, that is, only the first state isavailable. While this configuration will lose the convenience of windingthe lines during collapse and unwind during erection but provides asimpler and less expensive unit. It requires that while collapsed thelines have to be gathered and when erection is desired the lines have tobe installed on the spools.

While the novel features and preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen shown and described above and are also pointed out in the claims,the invention is not intended to be limited to the details above sinceit will be understood that various changes in the forms and details ofthe device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilledin the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the inventionas well as by equivalents thereof by means of insubstantial changes.

1. A camera elevating, support and control apparatus comprising; anextensible mast having telescoping sections and having a top end and abottom end and an operating location in a region above the bottom endconvenient for an operator to reach; a camera mounting and controlresponse assembly proximate the top end of the mast said assemblycomprising; a mounting element having a pivot mount attached to the mastproximate its top end the pivot mount defining a horizontal pivot axis;a tilt plate pivotably mounted to said mounting element pivot mount forpivoting around said horizontal axis said tilt plate having a camerasupport element for attaching a camera to the tilt plate to allow acamera to be mounted on the tilt plate so that the center of gravity isbelow the horizontal pivot axis so that the tilt plate will tend to arest position; and an integral rotator member, located only on one sideof a vertical axis running through the middle of the mast, attached tosaid tilt plate for controlled pivoting of the tilt plate the rotatormember having first and second line pulling points on opposite sides ofa vertical line through the horizontal pivot axis; a control assemblymounted on the mast at the operating location comprising first andsecond spools rotatable together about a horizontal axis; and first andsecond lines extending from opposite side of the rotator member, thefirst line extending from the first line pulling point to the firstspool for take-up by clockwise rotation of the first spool and thesecond line extending from the second line pulling point to the secondspool for take-up by counter clockwise rotation of the second spool;whereby the tilt plate can be tilted about the horizontal pivot axis byrotating the spools in either direction to wind the line on one spoolwhile the line on the other spool unwinds to tilt the tilt plate to aselected tilt angle about the horizontal pivot axis and a camera mountedon the tilt plate will be similarly tilted.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1in which said rotator member is a pulley wheel having a groove and thelines are attached to extend in opposite directions in the groove of thepulley wheel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the control assemblyfurther includes a releasable brake device that has an engaged positionto establish a first state in which the spools will rotate together fortilting the tilt plate and a disengaged position to establish a secondstate in which the spools can rotate independently of each other so thatupon erection and collapse of the extensible mast the lines can beunwound or wound about their respective spools as the erection orcollapse is performed.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controlassembly further comprises a grip element to enable rotation of the mastabout its longitudinal axis.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a foot assembly at the bottom end having a first membercontactable with the ground when the apparatus is in use and a secondmember rotatable with respect to the first member and attached forrotation with the mast.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprisingcontrol devices comprising an electronic control box mounted on thecontrol assembly for operation by the user of the camera and anextensible cable having a control line inside it running inside the mastfrom the control box to the camera, the control line entering the mastat a point below the stopping point of the telescoping mast sections andexiting the mast near the top end to plug into the camera.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 further wherein a signal output line is included inthe extensible cable and runs from the camera to a monitor.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a camera mounted on the tiltplate.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further wherein the tilt plate has anarray of holes to allow positioning of a camera with a desiredorientation when the lines are in neutral position.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9 further comprising a camera mounted on the tilt plate through aselected one of the holes.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a handle on the control assembly for rotating the spools. 12.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivot mount is on a yoke that isoffset to the side of the vertical axis and the tilt plate has a basemember on which a camera may be mounted and the base member is generallyover the vertical axis.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the basemember has an array of holes to facilitate mounting a camera.
 14. Acamera elevating, support and control apparatus comprising; anextensible mast having telescoping sections and having a top end and abottom end and an operating location in a region above the bottom endconvenient for an operator to reach; a camera mounting and controlresponse assembly proximate the top end of the mast said assemblycomprising; a yoke attached to the mast proximate its top end having amounting element having a pivot mount defining a horizontal pivot axis;a tilt plate pivotably mounted to said yoke for pivoting around saidhorizontal pivot axis said tilt plate having a camera support element toallow a camera to be mounted on the tilt plate so that the center ofgravity is below the horizontal pivot axis so that the tilt plate willtend to a rest position; and a pulley wheel having a groove attached tosaid tilt plate for controlled pivoting of the tilt plate the pulleywheel; having its center aligned with the horizontal pivot axis so thatrotation of the pulley wheel will rotate the tilt plate about thehorizontal pivot axis; a control assembly mounted on the mast at theoperating location comprising first and second spools rotatable togetherabout a horizontal axis and further comprising a releasable brake deviceoperable upon the first and second spools that has an engaged positionto establish a first state in which the spools will rotate together fortilting the tilt plate and a disengaged position to establish a secondstate in which the spools can rotate independently of each other so thatupon erection and collapse of the extensible mast the lines can beunwound or wound about their respective spools as the erection orcollapse is performed; and first and second lines, the first line fixedto the pulley wheel and fitted in the pulley wheel groove on one sideabove a horizontal line through the pivot axis and wound on the firstspool in one direction and the second line fixed to the pulley wheel andfitted in the pulley wheel groove on the opposite side above ahorizontal line through the pivot axis and wound in the oppositedirection on the second spool; whereby when the brake device is engagedthe tilt plate can be tilted about the horizontal pivot axis by rotatingthe spools in either direction to wind the line on one spool while theline on the other spool unwinds to rotate the pulley wheel and therebyto tilt the tilt plate to a selected tilt angle about the horizontalpivot axis and a camera mounted on the tilt plate will be similarlytilted.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising control devicescomprising an electronic control box mounted on the control assembly foroperation by the user of the camera and an extensible control line runinside the mast from the control box to the camera, the control lineentering the mast at a point below the stopping point of the telescopingmast sections and exiting the mast near the top end to plug into thecamera.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control assemblyfurther comprises a grip element to enable rotation of the mast aboutits longitudinal axis.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprisinga foot assembly at the bottom end having a first member contactable withthe ground when the apparatus is in use and a second member rotatablewith respect to the first member and attached for rotation with themast.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the extensible mast definesa vertical axis and said pivot mount is on a yoke that is offset to theside of the vertical axis and the tilt plate has a base member on whicha camera may be mounted and the base member is generally over thevertical axis.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the base member hasan array of holes to facilitate mounting a camera.
 20. A method forelevating and controlling a camera comprising; providing an extensiblemast having telescoping sections that can be collapsed to a shortestlength and erected to a desired height up to a maximum available height;providing an apparatus at a top end of the mast to allow a cameramounted thereon to tilt about a horizontal pivot axis and an integralrotator member, located only on one side of a vertical axis runningthrough the middle of the mast, operable to cause the tilting byrotating; providing a first spool and a second spool at a convenientoperating location on the mast, the first and second spools beingrotatable together; providing a first line attached to the rotatormember operable to rotate it in one direction by tension on the firstline and thereby to tilt the camera in one tilt direction and providinga second line attached to the rotator member to rotate it in theopposite direction by tension on the second line and thereby to tilt thecamera in an opposite tilt direction; winding the first line in onedirection about the first spool and winding the second line in theopposite direction about the second spool; and tilting the camera asdesired by rotating the spools together to pull on one of the first orsecond lines thereby to tilt the camera.
 21. The method of claim 20further comprising; providing a brake device having an engaged conditionto cause a first state in which the spools rotate together to operatetilting of the camera and having a disengaged condition to cause asecond state in which the spools rotate independently so that uponerection the lines can be unwound from the spools by allowing them torotate in opposite directions and upon collapse the lines can be unwoundfrom the spools by allowing them to rotate in opposite directions andupon collapse the lines can be wound on the spools by rotating them inopposite directions.